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Topic Your role
Question How does your role enable you to improve current knowledge and understanding of grassland ecosystems?
Expert Dr Nick Williams
Dr Nick Williams is a plant ecologist at the University of Melbourne. Nick’s research investigates the ecology of urban areas in particular, grassland ecology and restoration, green infrastructure for climate change adaptation and weed invasions. Nick’s research has highlighted how surrounding landscapes influence the processes that occur in remnant habitats, such as edge effects and local extinctions, and, has developed ways to make urban areas more biodiversity friendly.
The research I undertake helps grassland managers improve the management of the grasslands in our urban and rural environments. For example I’ve undertaken research looking at the effects of weed invasion on native grassland ecology and how we can better manage those weeds and prevent them from entering our native grasslands. I’ve also undertaken research looking at the ecology of introduced slugs and snails in our native grasslands and the effects that this is having on the recruitment of the native plant species.
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